Local News

The city of Glenwood and Glenwood Community School District have come to terms on a long-range real estate lease and shared-use agreement for the Charles E. Lakin Aquatic Center proposed on property adjacent to Glenwood Community High School.

The school district will receive $1 a year from the city over a 99-year period, according to the agreement approved by the Glenwood City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Rural Glenwood resident Don Brantz, a political activist and former member of the Mills County Board of Supervisors, has announced his candidacy for the District 12 seat in the Iowa State Senate vacated last month by Republican Joni Ernst, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in the Nov. 4 general election.

Brantz was nominated to run for the state senate seat on Thursday by the Iowa Libertarian Party, according to a press release sent Monday.

A 42-year-old Malvern man was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree theft Monday in Mills County District Court.

Mills County Attorney Tricia McSorley said Jeffery Dennis Anderson stole just under $75,000 in goods, services and money from his former employer, Agriland FS through what she described as a “farming scheme” and “trucking scheme.” The stolen cash was taken from a bank account.

An assortment of activities are planned for Glenwood’s annual “Home for the Holidays” celebration Dec. 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Festivities kick off Thursday evening with a chamber after hours, tree-lighting ceremony and sing-along on Town Square and conclude Sunday evening with “Soup and Song” at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. In between, Glenwood-area residents will have numerous holiday-related activities to enjoy.

U.S. Senator-elect Joni Ernst has formally resigned from the District 12 seat in the Iowa State Senate, forcing Gov. Terry Branstad to call for a special election on Tuesday, Dec. 30, to select her replacement.

Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, defeated Democrat Bruce Braley in the Nov. 4 general election to claim the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Tom Harkin. Ernst delivered her letter of resignation, effective immediately, to Branstad on Friday.

More than 500 tickets have been distributed for The United States Air Force Heartland of America Band’s holiday concert in Glenwood next month.

Through the sponsorship of The Opinion-Tribune newspaper and Glenwood Community School District, the band from Offutt Air Force Base will present its 2014 “Sounds of the Season” holiday concert at the Glenwood Community High School auditorium on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m.

Thirty-eight Glenwood area families will enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner in their home Thursday afternoon thanks to a grass-roots effort coordinated by the proprietors and management at Midwest Lanes bowling center.

A major expansion is planned for the Mills County Storehouse Food Pantry in Glenwood.

An addition on the west and southwest corner of the Storehouse building will provide an additional 1,000 square feet of storage space and enhance the food pantry’s ability to assist a growing number of Mills County families in need, spokesperson Barbara Kaiman said.